New law banning online pornography with violent or incestuous scenes set to come into effect in early November

A new law banning online pornography that depicts strangulation or incestuous relationships will come into effect from early November, according to the government.

The ban will make it illegal for individuals to possess or publish content showing these types of explicit scenes, including those involving adults role-playing as children under 16 years old. The laws are intended to curb the spread of violent and extreme material that can lead to real-life harm.

Following a review into porn regulation in 2025, researchers found that depictions of choking were widespread on popular online platforms, contributing to its normalization among young people.

The review's findings highlighted the dangers of such content, including an account of a 14-year-old boy who asked his teacher about choking girls during sex.

The UK government has emphasized that its upcoming ban on explicit content is not aimed at criminalizing individuals with "harmless" preferences, but rather to prevent the normalization of violent behaviors in relationships.

According to Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones, adult content can significantly influence young people's perceptions of what constitutes a healthy relationship. By normalizing or glorifying violence against women, such content can blur the line between acceptable and unacceptable behavior in real-life situations.

The minister has urged individuals to delete any explicit material they may possess and refrain from sharing it online after November 6th. The new ban will make it a criminal offense to produce, distribute, or possess certain types of content that depict violence against women.

Possession of such content can include storing images on devices like phones, computers, or cloud storage services. Those found in possession of explicit material could face penalties ranging from two to five years' imprisonment, depending on the severity and nature of the offense.

The new laws will also prohibit pornography that depicts or simulates sexual relationships between step-relations or foster-caregivers and individuals who appear to be under 18 years old.

Experts have long argued that easy access to such explicit content contributes to a culture of violence against women. Durham University law professor Clare McGlynn has been a vocal critic of the proliferation of extreme pornography, warning that it can desensitize viewers to sexual violence.

The upcoming ban represents a significant shift in the government's approach to regulating online content. According to Professor McGlynn, this development marks a crucial turning point in efforts to curb the normalization of sexually violent material in the digital sphere.

While the new laws are designed to hold tech platforms accountable for removing and mitigating violating content, questions persist about their enforcement and effectiveness.